Long-lived butterflies

Diane Morgan (Class of 2012) sent this photo of a julia butterfly (Dryas iulia) taken today at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area.

Julia butterflies are long-lived, and older butterflies may show the tattering signs of ‘life’. Like the related brush-footed butterfly,the zebra longwing (Heliconius charithonia) pictured below, julia butterflies can consume pollen for protein allowing them a longer life than most butterflies that only take plant nectar. Brush-footed butterflies often are used in butterfly display house because they are so long-lived.